Process for carrying out a reaction between a plurality of reactants on rotating surfaces



Oct. 17, 1967 HACHIRO YAMASHITA 3,3 7,6

PROCESS FOR CARRYING OUT A REACTION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF REACTANTS ONROTATING SURFACES Original Filed Nov. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR ATTORNEY Get, 17, 1967 HACHIRO YAMASHITA 3,347,620

PROCESS FOR CARRYING OUT A REACTION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF REACTANTS ONROTATING SURFACES Original Filed Nov. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Maia/us Oct. 17, 1967 HACHIRO YAMASHITA I 3,3

PROCESS FOR CARRYING OUT A REACTION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF REACTANTS ONROTATING SURFACES Original Filed Nov. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1VENTOR.

WQM ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1967 HACHIRO YAMASHITA 3,

PROCESS FOR CARRYING OUT A REACTION BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF REACTANTS ONROTATING SURFACES Original Filed Nov. 21, 1965 5 SheetsSheet 4 7 W 76 6a7 9 ,6 5 949 I 91 I47 76 1 23 98 V 3 77 90 I F 26 22 a9 H! 25 68 I 6935 i j J I H z INVENTQR.

ATTQRNEY Oct 1967 HACHIRO YAMASHITA ALITY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PROCESS FORCARRYING OUT A REACTION BETWEEN A PLUR OF REACTANTS ON ROTATING SURFACESOriginal Filed NOV. 21, 1963 I INVENTOR.

1 H a b/zzmw m MQH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,347,620 PROCESS FORCARRYING OUT A REACTION BE- TWEEN A PLURALITY 0F REACTANTS ON R0- TATINGSURFACES Hachiro Yamashita, Omiha, Japan, assignor of one-third toTakara Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, and one-third toKiyoka Mukai, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan Original application Nov. 21, 1963,Ser. No. 325,510. Divided and this application Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No.526,637 Claims priority, application Japan, Nov. 22, 1963, 37/ 51,060 7Claims. (Cl. 23-1) The present application is a division of my copendingapplication Serial No. 325,510, filed November 21, 1963.

The present invention relates to a reaction method for carrying outchemical reactions at high speed as required in various chemicalindustries, particularly in the industries producing synthetic resins,metals such as ferrite, alloy or powder metallurgy, petroleum, food andceramics.

For example, in the synthetic resin industry, it is common practice toutilize polymers obtained by a preceding polymerization of the monomerin the manufacture of molded articles. This method of the prior artrequires not only expensive equipment for the conversion of the monomerto a polymer, but also time-consuming operational steps as well as thenecessity of a suitable heating or maintenance of a high temperaturerequired for the polymerization. A substantial amount of a catalyzer isalso required, and since the polymer obtained from the polymerization ofthe monomer is susceptible to impurities, it is necessary to clean thepolymer or to treat the same with reactants, such as oxidizing andreducing agents which do not determentally affect the polymer. However,it is difficult to remove impurities from the polymer by this type oftreatment, since impurities will frequently be strongly bound to thepolymer, and under such circumstances some damage to the polymer by thereactants is unavoidable. No satisfactory molded articles can bemanufactured without first treating the polymer in the above explainedexpensive and time consuming manner.

It is one object of the invention to produce molded articles by directlymolding a monomer without a preceding polymerization of the monomer.

In accordance with the prior art, the chemical reaction between thereactant is effected in an imperfectly mixed condition, whichnecessarily requires the maintenance of a reaction atmosphere, as wellas a great deal of time in order to carry out a successful reaction,even though the mixing is carried out by agitation and with asubstantial amount of a catalyst. Consequently the polymerization is anindispensable intermediate step for obtaining molded articles inaccordance with the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a perfect mixing ofthe reactants so that the molecules of the reactants are arrangedadjacent to each other.

A related object of the invention is to form molded articlesdirectlyfrom amonomer without polymerization by mixing the reactants insuch a manner that the molecules of the reactants are located adjacenteach other throughout the entire mixture. 7

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of manufacture ofarticles consisting of asynthetic resin by eliminating thepolymerization step, and the cleaning of the resin from impurities. 1

Another object of the invention is to obtain finished articles made ofsynthetic resin which are free of impurities and of excellent quality,and which require not more than the theoretically necessary amount ofreactants.

Particular objects and advantages of the present invention as applied tothe manufacture of articles of synthetic For example, in themetallurgical processes using metal powders, a mechanical mixer iscontinuously operated for several days and nights in order to compoundthe various substances in a uniform manner. Nevertheless, in accord ancewith the prior art, a uniform compounding and mixing could not beaccomplished for microscopic particles,

and even further continuation of the mixing cannot improve the qualityof the mixture beyond a certain optimum, even if a catalyst is used in asubstantial amount. Conventional methods of mixing and reacting metalpowders do not achieve a perfect compound, even if the theoreticallybest compounding ratio is employed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reaction method inwhich the molecules of reactants are placed adjacent each other toachieve a rapid and perfect reaction between the reactants.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reaction method in whichseveral reactants are spread on rotating surfaces and then thrown by thecentrifugal force beyond the edges of the rotating surfaces to impingeanother, preferably rotating surface where the reactants are combinedand mixed continuously in extremely thin layers so that rapid reactiontakes place.

At least one, but preferably several rotating surfaces are arranged insuch a manner that the reactant spread over one surface will be carriedby the centrifugal force beyond the peripheral edge of the same, andimpinge another rotating surface on which another reactant moves,

under the action of centrifugal force.

Preferably, the surfaces are surfaces of revolution, for

example frusto-conical surfaces which are alternately dished in oppositedirection. For example, assuminga vertical axis of rotation, adownwardly concave frustoconical surface will surround the peripheraledge of an upwardly concave frusto-conical surface.

The mixing of two reactants will produce a reaction mass which is, forexample, mixed with a third reactant, or with a third and a fourthreactant, to form another reaction mass to which a further reactant maybe added, or which may be divided into solid and liquid parts.

Due to the fact that liquid particles of a mixture will be thrown out inhorizontal direction from the peripheral edge of a rotatingfrustro-conical surface rotating about a vertical axis, while solidparticles will move in the direction of the slanted surface, for examplealong a downwardly inclined path, if the frusto-conical surface isdownwardly concave. Due to the different paths of movement of the liquidand solid particles, the same can be separated and recoveredindependently by suitably arranged guide surfaces which areadvantageously provided on a rotating member.

In accordance with the present invention, the reactants are continuouslycharged to the rotating surfaces by supply conduits in the center regionof the rotating members, and such supply conduits are advantageouslyseveral tubular conduits surrounding each other and forming annularsupply conduits.

The several reactants supplied through axially extending supply conduitsto the center regions of several rotating surfaces will be spread in athin film or layer on the respective surface, pass from one surfacetothe other, and will be mixed in such finely dispersed condition thatinstant reaction takes place.

In view of the fact that the method of the invention is continuous, andrequires exactly measured continuously supplied amounts of reactants, itis also an object of the present invention to automatically andcontinuously feed exactly measured 'amounts of a substance supplied inlarge irregular quantities.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a lengthways side elevation, partially in axial FIG. 4 is alengthways side elevation, partially in axial section, and illustratinganother modification of the em bodiment of FIG. 1 and particularlysuited for carrying out a reaction in which the destruction of powderedparticles must be prevented; and

FIG.-5 is a fragmentary side view of a reaction machine provided withfeeding devices;

Referring now to the drawings, and more. particularly to FIG. 1, acylindricalcasing 34 is mounted on a tubular support 69 which rests on abase structure 82. The bottom of casing 34 is closed by a bottom plate76 provided with an outlet 35. The top of casing 34 is closed by a covermember 77 Whose center portion is provided with supply means forcharging the machine with several substances which are to react witheach other in the machine. The supply means include a vertical supplyconduit 1 which is coaxial with the axis of the cylindrical casing 34.Two vertical conduits 2 and 3 surround conduit 1 and form annular supplypassages around the same. The upper end of supply conduit 2 is locatedbelow the open end of supply conduit 1 and has an inlet 80 provided in atubular cap element 79. The upper endof conduit.

3 is located still lower, and communicates with a lower inlet 81. Atubular member 78 of greater diameter supports member 79, and rests on afrustro-conical portion of cover member 77. The tubular member 78 formsanother supply conduit 7 around conduit 3 to which a substance can befed through the inlet 5. Another inlet 4 communicates with a furthersupply conduit 8 which is separated by wall portion 87 from supplyconduit 7, All conduits, except conduit 1 are of annular configuration.

The lower ends of conduits 2 and 3 are located at the same level, andare slightly higher than the lower end of conduit. Conduits 7 and 6 openinto the interior of casing 34, 77 at even higher staggered levels.

The annular concentric supply conduits are disposed in this manner tosupply different substances to annular surfaces of rotary membersprovided in the casing of the machine.

A vertical, shaft 22 is mounted in bearings 23 and 24 which are located.within a hollow shaft 25 coaxial with shaft 22. Shaft 25 is mounted inan upper'bearing 26 on a tubular supporting element 98 which rests on aflange 88 of tubular support 69, and bearing 27 is supported on acircular member 71 secured to the base 82 of the machine. A pulley 29 issecured to the lower end of shaft 22, and the pulley 28 is secured tothe lower end of the hollow shaft 25. Pulleys 28, 29 are connected bybelts to two motors which are adapted to rotate shafts 22 and 25 atdifferent speeds, and preferably in opposite directions. The motors, notshown, are arranged in the broken off end portion of base 82, as shownin FIG. 2.

The upper end of shaft 22 has a flange 75, a conical journal portion,and a threaded end portion on which a nut 74 is mounted for clamping thehub portion of a member 90 against flange 75 so that member rotates withshaft 22. Member 90 is dished, and has an upper conical surface 12 whichforms with an annular member 93, and with an annular member closelysurrounding the lower end of conduit 1, an annular chamber into whichconduits 2 and 3 open. Member 93 is supported on member 90 by aplurality of circumferentially spaced narrow posts 14 so that substancesserving as reactants supplied through conduits 2 and 3 into the annularchamber between members 93 and 90 will pass outwardly onto anotherfrusto-conical surface 13 of member 90 when the same is rotated so thatthe reactants supplied through conduits 2 and 3 are subjected to theaction of the centrifugal force.

The top of member 93 has a horizontal annular surface on which aplurality of circumferentially spaced narrow supporting posts 15 areprovided for supporting another member 94 which has a downwardly concavefrustoconical inner surface 11 extending transversely to thefrusto-conical upwardly concave inner surface 10 of member 93, and tothe frusto-conical surface 13 which is substantially parallel to surface10. The surface 10 of member 93 and the surface 91 of member 94,together with conduit 3, form an annular chamber into which supplyconduit 7 opens so that another reactant can be supplied through inlet5, and conduit 7 to surface 10 of member 93.

Consequently, during rotation ofmembers 90 and 93, the

reactants supplied through conduits 2, 3 and 5 will move along surfaces12, 13 and 10 in a thin layer or film and a then pass over theperipheral edges of surfaces 10 and 13 to impinge surface 11 of member94 where the reactants are superimposed in thin layers while movingrapidly along surface 11 under the action of the centrifugal force.Evidently, only one of conduits 2 and 3 may be used if mixing of onlytwo reactants is desired.

On the top of member 91, another member 95 is mounted by means ofcircumferentially spaced post 16. Member 95 has a downwardly concaveinner frusto-conical surface 9 which extends substantially parallel withsurface 9 of member 94. A horizontal annular peripheral portion 96projects from the outer peripheral edge of member 95 and is providedwith projections 21 intermeshing with corresponding projections 21a onan annular peripheral horizontal flange 97 of a rotary member 98 whichis integral with the hollow shaft 25, and can be rotated in a directionopposite to the direction of rotation of shaft 22 and members 90, 93,94,95 and 96.

Member 90 is provided with an inner cavity 73 below the lower end ofconduit 1 and extending around nut 74. Conduits 18 extend in radialdirection through member 90 and into an annular chamber 19 formedbetween a cylindrical portion of member 98 and a cylindrical surface ofmember 90. When another reactant is supplied through conduit 1, itpasses through chamber 73 and under the action of the centrifugal forcethrough passages 18 into chamber 19 and from there to an upwardlyconcave frustoconical surface 17 of rotary member 98. The peripheraledge of surface 17 is located opposite horizontal circumferentiallyspaced projections 99 near the peripheraledge of surface 13 of member90, so that a substance moving outwardly on surface 17 under the actionof centrifugal force is first somewhat disturbed by projections 99 andthen impinges surface 11 of member 94.

Reactants thrown from surfaces 10, 13 and 17 against surface 11 traveloutwardly on the same and finally impinge an upwardly directedfrusto-conical surface 13 on member 98which rotates opposite to thedirection of rotation of member 94. The combined reactants may alreadyhave reacted so that the reaction mass passes outwardly on surface 20and impinges the inner surface 9 of member 95' which rotates opposite tothe direction of rotation of surface 20. A reactant supplied throughinlet 4 and conduit 6 will pass between posts 16 toward surface 9 andreact with the partly reacted mass coming from surface 20. The thusformed reaction mass passes over the peripheral edge of surface 9 towardthe top surface of the horizontal portion 97 where it travels outwardlydue to the rotation of member 94 so that the reaction mass is furtherdivided into fine particles by the int'ermeshing projections 21, 21a,and is finally ejected toward the inner cylindrical surface of caisng 34from which it is scraped by rotary scrapers 33 which are connected to atubular drive member 30 having at the lower end thereof a gear 31meshing with a drive gear of another motor, not shown, which drive gearprojects inwardly thorugh an opening 69' in the tubular support 69 intomeshing engagement with gear 31. An annular bearing support 70 ismounted in the casing to rotatably support the tubular drive portion 30of the scraping members 33. The reaction mass finally falls through theoutlet 35 into a suitable container, not shown.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the circular peripheral edges of thefrusto-conical surfaces of the rotary members are sharp edges having incross section an acute angle by which the passage of the reactantsbeyond the peripheral edges is influenced.

The reaction machine illustrated in FIG. 1 operates as follows:

Pulleys 28 and 29 are driven at high speed in opposite directions sothat rotary members 90, 93, 94, 95, 96 rotates in one direction, androtary members 98, 97 rotates in the opposite direction.

A reactant charged through conduit 1 passes through chamber 73, passage18, chamber 19, as thinly spread over the surface of revolution 17 whiletravelling outwardly on the same until it is thrown against surface 11rotating in opposite direction. Projections 99 will di vide the materialduring the travel toward surface 11. The substance is spread on theouter portion of the rotating surface 11 and moves toward its peripheraledge. A second reactant substance introduced through conduit 2 is spreadover surfaces 12 and 13 While travelling outwardly, and finally impingessurface 9 where it will mix with a thin layer of the first reactantsupplied through conduit 1.

Conduit 3 may be used in the particular reaction for supplying a gas,for example for the maintenance of the reaction temperature, but may beused for feeding any other reactant in which event the other reactantwill be combined with the reactant supplied through conduit 2 on therotating surface 12 and then pass toward surface 13 together with thereactant supplied through conduit 2.

The wide inlets 4 and 5 are particularly suited for the supply ofpowderized substances. A powder entering through inlet 5 will passthrough a wide annular conduit 7 onto the rotating surface 10 and bethrown against the rotating surface 11. Consequently, layers of rapidlymoving reactants supplied through conduits 1, 2, 3 and 5 will mix andreact on surface 11.

Another reactant in the form of a powder supplied through inlet 4 willpass through conduit 6 into the space between members 94 and 95 and willtravel along the downwardly directed inner surface 9 in outwarddirection to combine with the partly reacted mass thrown from surfaceagainst surface 9. The reaction mass then passes over the top surface ofmember 97 in outward direction between the intermeshing projections 21,20a which will divide the reaction mass into finer particles.

Each of the surfaces of revolution 11, 12, 13, 10, 20, and 9 is inclinedto the vertical axis of rotation of the two rotary members rotating inopposite direction. The surfaces are shown to be frusto-conical with aconstant slanting angle so that the substances supplied to the centerportions of the surfaces will be uniformly spread on the surfaces in athin film and layer while travelling outwardly under the action ofcentrifugal force. Due to the fact that the surfaces are inclined to theaxis, the substances travelling on the surfaces are prevented fromfloating in the spaces between the rotating surfaces in which aircurrents exist due to the rapid rotation of the rotary members. Sincethe centrifugal force acts in horizontal direction during rotation aboutthe vertical axis, the inclination of the surfaces causes a division ofthe centrifugal force into a first component urging the substances tomove outwardly, and a second component urging the substances against thesurfaces assuring a frictional contact with the surfaces. Due to thisarrangement, the outwardly travelling particles adjacent the surfaceswill encounter considerable friction, while particles of the substancenot directly in contact with the respective surface will move at thegreater speed in outward direction since the friction betweensuperimposed layers of particles is lesser than the friction between theparticles of the substance and the rotary surfaces. In this manner, aparticular thorough mixing of the particle is achieved on surfaces onwhich several reactants are combined, particularly surfaces 11, 20 and9. Extremely thin layers of different reactants will move at differentspeeds in superimposed condition while being at the same time dispersedin circumferential direction due to the fact that the rotating surfaceshave a greater area in the region of the outer peripheral portions thanin the center regions. As a result, particles of substantially molecularsize of several reactants are placed adjacent each other, and reactimmediately.

Surfaces 10, 13 and 17 prepare the reactants individually by spreadingthe same in a very thin layer before the reactants impinge the surface11 on which the first reaction may take place. The spreading of thenewly supplied reactants is particularly effective since the respectivesurfaces 10, 13 'and 17 face upward so that the weight of the substanceincreases the frictional connection between the particles of thesubstance and the supporting rotary surfaces.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 permits the provision of a greatnumber of surfaces of revolution in a very small space so that a greatnumber of reactants may be used which pass over several surfaces toachieve a high degree of division into fine particles which takes placeparticularly when the substances pass over the sharp peripheral edges ofthe dish-shaped rotary members.

In the event that the substances to be mixed and reacted are of lowviscosity, and have relatively large particles, or if it is desired toavoid a destruction of the particles existing in the suppliedsubstances, then it is advisable to provide fewer rotary surfaces sothat the material is not so often transferred from one rotary surface toanother rotary surface. In certain cases, it will be sufiicient toprovide only two rotary surfaces so that only one transfer takes place,corresponding, to the transfer of a substance from surface 13 to surface11, which both rotate at the same speed, or to the transfer from surface11 to surface 98 which rotate relative to each other. In accordance withanother modification, only a pair of rotary surfaces corresponding tosurfaces 20 and 9 whose peripheral edges are located substantiallyopposite to each other, may be pro vided so that two substances passingoutwardly along such surfaces will mix in the space between portions 96and 97.

On the other hand, for substances having a high viscosity and coherence,it is preferred to employ an even larger number of rotary surfaces thanshown in FIG. 1 so that during the several transfers the cohesive forcesholding the particles together will be considerably weakened so thatfinally a non-adhesive and uniformly compounded mixture may be obtained.

As explained above, the rotary members have sharp peripheral edges inthe preferred embodiment of the invention. If the edges are dull orflat, the position of the substances passing outwardly beyond the edgeswill not be accurately defined and the material will spread from theedges which is undesirable and will disturb the uniform spreading,division, and dispersion of the substances. Furthermore, the aircurrents produced on the undersides of the rotary surfaces will generateeddy currents at the peripheral edges of the rotarymembers, which willinterfere with the straight transfer motion and the uniform dispersionof the particles, particularly during the passage from the outermostrotary surface to the inner surface of the pounded substances will bedivided and dispersed by the intermeshing projections 21 and 21a whichmove relative to each other, preferably in opposite direction. Therotation of the rotary dish-shaped surfaces will generate air streamscausing a higher pressure in the space between the two oppositelyrotating members, than in the annular space between the casing wall andthe rotating members. The pressure in the inner space is increased, andthe pressure in the outer space is reduced. Consequently, air underpressure will pass between projections 21, 21a toward the inner surfaceof the cylindrical casing wall, spreading upward and downward todistribute the mass over the inner surface of the casing. This effect isuseful for a reaction in which solid powdered substances are reactedwith liquid additives since the distribution of the liquid additivesover a layer of the solid substances can be achieved. The mixturedischarged from the outermost peripheral portions 96, 97 will move alongtangential lines. toward the inner cylindrical surface of casing 34 dueto the action of the centrifugal force. Consequently, the solidparticles will not impinge on the casing wall in radial direction, andwill not bounce back from the same although the impact takes place atconsiderable velocity. The solid particles impinging the innercylindrical surface of casing 34 will tend to move along adownwardlydirected spiral path under the action of gravity and inertia while thespeed of movement is progressively decreased until the particles aredeposited on the bottom, or adhere to the cylindrical surface.Consequently, particles will be intimately and thoroughly mixed on theinner, surface of casing 34 which will further improve the reaction ratebetween the several reactants, particularly if the reaction betweensolid and liquid reactants is to take place which is due to the factthat the frequency of contact between the solid particles is increasedduring the spiral movement along'the inner cas ing surface while liquidmaterial which was only partly deposited on a solid particle, willspread over the entire surface of the respective particle.

While a reaction between substances travelling along surfaces 9 and 11on one hand, and surface 20 on the other hand is improved by rotatingthe surfaces in opposite directions, in certain cases where destructionof particles is to be prevented, all surfaces may rotate at the samespeed and in the same direction, as is the case for surfaces 10, 13 and11.

The substances travelling outwardly on the rotary surfaces will have agreat speed gradient in radial direction which is in proportion to thethickness of the layer, and consequently the particles of the substancesare prevented from accumulating due to shearing forces which are inproportion to the speed gradient. The centrifugal force on the particlesof the substances, as well as the frictional forces between adjacentparticles, and between the rotary surfaces and particles thereon, willcooperate to crumble and disperse the layer of the substance startingfrom the top face so that the particles dispersed in radial direction.In the event that a liquid substance is supplied to a rotary surface,the viscosity index of the liquid may be considered to correspond to theinner resistance of the solid substances, at least as the treatment ofthe substances in accordance with the present invention is concerned.

Liquid droplets thrown outwardly from the peripheral edge of a rotarysurface have a diameter which may be calculated in accordance with theequation:

N Dos wherein N is the number of revolution of the rotary surface perminute, q is the amount of supplied substance in pounds, and D is thediameter of the rotary surface.

The thickness of a liquid layer Z at the edge of the rotary surface isone third of the diameter of a droplet, and can be calculated inaccordance with the following equation:

wherein N is the number of revolution of the rotary surface per minute,and r is the radius of the rotary surface, q is the volume rate.

The above equations are valid not only for liquids, but also for powderparticles.

Particles thrown outwardly from the edge of the rotary surface willtravel in a horizontal plane when the diameter of the particle ordroplet is relatively small, but as the diameter increases, the particlewill be thrown outwardly substantially in the direction of the rotarysurface, that is inclined to the horizontal plane and to the verticalaxis. If particles having substantially the same diameter are to becompounded, the diameter of the particles will determinethe dispersingpattern of the particles in the proximity of the peripheral edge of therotary surface, as defined by the above equations, with the values of N,D and q suitably selected.

If the particles of the substance supplied to the rotary surfaces havevery different diameters and sizes, or if the viscosities of thesubstance are different, the particles of larger diameter will fastertravel outwardly on the rotary surfaces than the particles of smalldiameter when the substances are supplied to the center portion of therotary surface, and consequently a separation of particles according tosize or diameter will take place.

In the preferred method of the present invention, the amount ofsubstances supplied to the reaction machine is maintained absolutelyconstant, and in this event, uniformly mixed distribution patterns willbe obtained 1e-.

gardless of the variations between the particle sizes, and difiierencesin the sizes and diameters of the supplied substances will not cause anydisturbance in the desired dispersing pattern.

The reaction ratio between soild, preferably powdered substances andliquid substances will depend on the speed of the rotary surface, on thesize of the particles, and on the properties of the liquid. If theliquid is added in a small amount, for example less than about 15%,liquid droplets having a diameter of about micron thrown fromtheperipheral edge of a rotary surface, will penetrate directly into theflowing layer of solid particles on the corresponding receiving surface,and will be enveloped by the solid particles to form pellets which willbe finally pulverized upon passing through the projecting members 21,21a, and no separation of liquid droplets from pulverized solidparticles will occur.

However, if the diameter of the solid particles is great, the contactarea between a liquid droplet and the solid particle is restricted, andthus the tendency to form pellets is reduced so that a separationbetween a droplet and a solid particle will more readily occur inpellets having a liquid layer on a solid particle when the mass passesthrough the projections 21, 21a. In this event, a small amount ofcondensated liquid may form on the inner surface of casing 34. Thisphenomenon of a separation between liquid and solid particles can beutilized in accordance with the present invention.

For example, if a liquid organic agent such as benzole is used, solidparticles and the liquid agent may be mixed on a rotary surface, andthen spread and thrown outwardly from the peripheral edge of the rotarysurface in such a manner that separation of the liquid substance fromthe solid substance can be easily accomplished. The solid particles areof relatively large size and will be thrown outwardly beyond theperipheral edge in the direction of the conical surface which definesacute angles with the vertical axis and with the horizontal plane. Onthe other hand, the liquid droplets which are of relatively small size,will be thrown outwardly in a substantially horizontal plane. A suitableseparating means can be arranged between the paths of movement of theliquid and solid particles so that the liquid and solid parts can beseparated from each other. The liquid agent, having finished andextracting reaction and being thus separated from the solid substance,can then be recovered and use for other reactions, while the solidparticles may be transferred to another rotary surface where they areagain subjected to another extracting reaction and consequentseparation. Consequently, the reaction machine of the invention iscapable of accomplishing extracting reactions in a very short time,while the saturated reaction liquid can be separated from the reactionmass in a simple and continuous operation.

In accordance with the method of the invention gaseous substances may beused in reactions. As noted above, an air stream will be created alongthe rotary surfaces, and consequently it is evident that gaseoussubstances which are to be utilized for a reaction, can be directlysupplied to the rotary surface where the reaction is to take place.Oxidizing, neutralizing, or reducing gases may be employed in accordancewith the desired reaction. Furthermore, a gaseous medium of hightemperature may be supplied to the reaction area for promoting thereaction, while on the other hand supply of a gaseous medium having atemperature lower than C. may be used for stopping the reaction for acertain time interval. In this connection it may be noted that since thereactions carried out in accordance with the present invention areextremely rapid, under certain circumstances temporary stopping of thereaction may be occasionally required. While it is possible to heat andcool the machine by suitable apparatus, it is preferred to supply agaseous medium of the desired temperature directly to the region of therotating surfaces on which the reaction takes place. In this manner, thedanger of the overheating and burning out of a bearing portion isavoided, which may happen if the machine itself is heated.

The eddy currents created by the air stream along the rotary downwardlyfacing surfaces, are advantageously utilized in promoting the reactionby vibrating the reactants. In this event, the peripheral edge of therotary surface may be rounded off so as to have a certain thicknesswhich will aid in the development of eddy currents, and the sharpperipheral edges which are advantageous for other purposes will not beprovided.

The air currents created under the rotary surfaces may be advantageouslyused in feeding the gaseous medium required for a specific reaction. Anelongated gap between two parallel dish-shaped rotary members havingparallel frusto-conical walls may be used for this purpose.

The reaction machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is advantageously modified tocarry out different types of reactions. The embodiment of FIG. 2 hasshafts 24 and 25 which are driven as explained with reference to FIG. 1to rotate two rotary members relative to each other, and perferably inopposite directions. Three concentric supply conduits 36, 37 and 38 areprovided concentric with the vertical axis of rotation of shaft 24, andhave lower ends which are staggered in vertical direction and extendinto a casing 86 through an opening at the center of the top wall of thecasing. A first rotary member is rotated by shaft 24 and includesdish-shaped members 41, 43, 42 each of which has a frusto-conicalsurface. Members 41, 42, 43 are connected to each other by posts 14',15' and 16' as explained with reference to FIG. 1. A substance suppliedthrough conduit 36 passes between posts 14' and outwardly along theupwardly concave frusto-conical surface of member 41 which is secured toflange of shaft 24 by a nut 74. Shaft 24 is mounted in bearings 23within shaft 25 which is mounted on bearings 26 on a supportingstructure, not shown in FIG. 2. The upper part of the hollow shaft 25 isdish-shaped and terminates in a frusto-conical peripheral portion 83.Directly below the frusto-conical portion 83, an annular separating wall46 is provided which has an edge located opposite and spaced from theperipheral edge of the frusto-conical portion 43 and forming an annulargap with the same. Portion 46 is inclined to the axis at the same angleas portion 43. Passage means 47 are located inwardly of portion 46 andcommunicate with a discharge outlet 53 formed in the lower portion ofcasing 86. A horizontal plane passing through the peripheral edge offrusto-conical portion 53 will intersect with the frustoconical portion83. A horizontal plane through the peripheral edge of frusto-conicalportion 83 will intersect with a separating member 50, while anextension of the conical surface of portion 83 in upward direction willpass the edge of member 50. Member 50 forms a chamber 51 which has anoutlet 52.

The arrangement is such that when a mixture of solid and liquidparticles passes along the frusto-conical surface of portion 43, liquidparticles will be thrown outwardly in a horizontal plane as indicated bythe arrow and impinge the frusto-conical surface of portion 83 to travelalong the same in outward direction.

Solid particles will be thrown from the surface of portion 43 in thedirection of the arrow 84 and along an imaginary conical surface definedby members 43 and 46. Consequently, the solid particles will beseparated from the liquid particles by member 46 and will pass throughpassage 47 to the outlet 53. The liquid particles moving in thedirection of the arrow 85 to surface 83 are mixed with a liquid reactantsupplied through conduit 38 and travelling outwardly along the innerfrusto-conical surface of portion 42. Due to the reaction between thetwo liquids on the surface of member 83, the reaction mass may containanother liquid and another solid, which are again separated due to thefact that the solid particles moves in the direction of thefrusto-conical surface 83 toward the wall 49 of casing 86 and passthrough outlet 53, whereas the liquid particles move in horizontal planefrom the edge of surface 83 against separating member 50 and aredischarged through outlet 52. Consequently, the embodiment of FIG. 2 isparticularly suited for a reaction which may be represented by thefollowing reaction formulae:

In the above equation, R represents the solid product, while the othersubstances are liquid. Consequently, liquids A and B are suppliedthrough conduits 36 and 37 and form the reaction mass R+S on portion 43from which the solid substance R is separated and discharged throughpassage 47 and outlet 53, while the liquid S is mixed on surface 83 withthe liquid C supplied through conduit 83 and forms the reaction massR-l-A which is divided by separating member 50 so that the solidsubstance R passes again through outlet 53, while the liquid A iscollected from the outlet 52. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 isdesigned for carrying out a more complex reaction, for example, thereaction between water and ethylene oxide, which may be representedaccording to the following formulae:

Three concentric feeding conduits 54, 55' and 56 are provided in anarrangement similar to the constructions of FIGS. 1 and 2 for supplyingdifferent reactants. A drive shaft rotates member 65 with rotary member158 which 75 has an upwardly concave spreading surface 58 for the 1 1reactant supplied to the annular conduit 55. Member 158 is mounted onmember 65 by circumferentially spaced posts 14" through which a reactantsupplied through conduit 54 can pass outwardly into chamber 66 of asecond rotary member 161 which preferably rotates in opposite direction,as explained with reference to FIG. 1.

Two further dished members 157 and 160 are secured by posts 15" and 16"to each other and to member 158 to form a single rotary member withseveral frustoconical surfaces rotating at the same speed. Member 157has a downwardly concave frusto-conical surface 59, and member 160 has afirst downwardly concave frusto-conical surface .60, and an outerperipheral portion with a more steeply inclined frusto-conical surface63. Member 157 has an upwardly concave frusto-conical surface57 to whicha reactant is supplied to the third conduit 56 and, after spreading onsurface 57, is thrown toward surface 60 on which it travels outwardlydue to the action of the centrifugal force. Rotary member 161 has, inaddition to the frusto-conical surface 61, an outer peripheral portionwith a more steeply inclined frusto-conical surface 62 whose outer edgeis located opposite the circular edge formed by frusto-conical surfaces60 and 63. A casing 64- surrounds the rotary members.

- A substance corresponding to the reactant represented by B in theabove formula is supplied through supply conduit 54 in a constantamount, and spreads over the surface 61 due to the action of thecentrifugal force. At the same time a substance corresponding to thereactant A is supplied through supply conduits 55, 56 in a constantamount per time unit. The reactant A moving over the surface 59 is addedto the reactant B moving over surface 61 and reacts with the latter toform the reaction mass R.

During the movement of the mass over the sharply inclinedsurface 62, thepressure against the surface 62 is increased as compared with thepressure exerted by the mass on surface 61 since the centrifugal forceacts in a horizontal direction and has a greater component perpendicularto surface 62 than to surface 61. This causes higher friction and morethorough mixing promoting the reaction. The reaction mass R is thrownoutwardly from the peripheral edge of surface 62 toward surface 60 onwhich reactant A, supplied through conduit 56 and over surface 57, movesin outward direction in a thin layer. The reactants A and R are thusmixed and react particularly on the surface 63 where they are subjectedto greater pressure by the centrifugal force in a manner which willpromote reaction and formation of the reaction mass S. The reaction masswill be thrown from the peripheral edge of surface 63 against the innersurface of casing 64, and may be discharged through a' suitable outlet.Pressure, temperature, and reaction at: mosphere can be controlled asdescribed with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 bysupplying a gaseous medium through an additional conduit into thecasing.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is a modification of the machineshown in FIG. 1 and is particularly adapted to carry out a reaction inwhich a reactant is a powder, and must be carefully treated to preventdestruction of the powder particles.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a rotary member 90 corresponding to member90-of FIG. 1 without a passage therethrough, has a short frusto-conicalsurface 13 terminating in a sharp peripheral edge, while surface 12.

corresponds to surface 12 of FIG. 1. A horizontal plate 148 is securedto member 10, and is located above the peripheral edge of surface 13.

The second rotary member 98, which is preferably rotated in a directionopposite to the direction of rotation of member 90, has upwardlyprojecting teeth 147 also located below and opposite plate 148. Rotarymember 98 has another frusto-conical surface opposite the frusto-conicalsurface 11 and having a peripheral edge located on oppositefrusto-conical surface 9, as described with reference to FIG. 1, thehorizontal peripheral portions 97 and 96 being omitted. The rotarymembers 94 are preferably somewhat smaller than the correspondingmembers in the construction of FIG. 1.

As in the other embodiments of the invention, the com tinuously suppliedamounts of reactants are supplied in constant amounts in each time unit,irrespective of whether the reactants are solid, in powder shape, liquidor gas. To maintain the amount supplied per minute constant isnecessitated by the fact that even powder particles in the monomer statemust be dispersed and spread uniformly and completely in a thinfilm-like layer. In the reaction method of :the present invention, it isof greatest importance that the compounding ratio between the severalreactants is always maintained absolutely constant in all reactionareas, thatis on the reaction surfaces, since in the method of theinvention the reaction takes place instantly when the two reactants arebrought into contact. Therefore, at the moment at which the reactantscontact each other, they must be present in exactly the right amountaccording to the required reaction ratio since otherwise a completereaction could not take place in a continuous process. For example, ifone reactant would be supplied in a greater quantity than necessary, it

may not be used for the reaction witha later supplied other reactant,but would pass outwardly in the casing with the reaction mass.

Assuming that the deviations from the desired amount A of one reactantwould be plus or minus a due to inaccurateness of the feeding apparatus,and that deviations from the desired amount B of another reactant wouldbe plus or minus 12 then the maximum deflection would be plus or minus(a t-b However, in practice, the inaccuracies will average out and theerror may be negligible.

However, accuracy 'of the feeding apparatus is of great importance inthe arrangement of the present invention, and conventional flowmeters,or measuring pumps provided for suitable valve means may be employed inthe event that the reactants are a gas or a liquid. If accuratelymeasured amounts of solid particles are to be con-- tinuously suppliedin exact quantities, the feeding apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 isadvantageously combined with the reaction machine of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates two feeding devices S and S of identical constructionfor feeding accurately measured amounts of powdered reactants inconstant quantities per time unit continuously to the inlets 4 and 5 ofthe easing 34 of the reaction machine, which may be constructed as shownin FIG. 1.

Conduits 1, 2 and 3 are particularly adapted for feeding liquid orgaseous reactants, and the corresponding inlets are connected to threesupply pipes 101, 102 and 103 having flow meters 141, 142 and 143,respectively, and flow adjusting means 104, 105 and 106, respectively..Between. flow meters 141, 142 and 143 and flow adjusting means 104,105, 106,-there are provided electrical or mechanical actuating means144, 145, and 146 which actuate the flow adjusting means 104, 105, 106in accordance with deviation from the desired amounts of gaseous orliquid matter flowing through the respective conduit as sensed by flowmeters 141, 142, 143. In this manner, the amount of liquid or gaseousreactants can be maintained at a constant uniform level duringcontinuous feeding. The arrangement is known, and consequently onlyschematically indicated in FIG. 5.

Solid reactants are pulveried to form a powder, and the respectivepowdered reactants are thrown into the hoppers of the two feedingdevices S, S of which only the feeding apparatus S is illustrated indetail. Hopper is located above a conveyor band 131 passing in anendless loop over rollers 129 and 130, of which at least one is driven.Hopper 125 has a projecting portion 126 in which a roller 127 is mountedwhich serves to maintain the amount of material on the left end ofconveyor band 131 constant. A suitable cover 128 covers the end portionof the conveyor so that the powdered reactant falls directly on the toprun of a conveyor band 110 which is guided over a pair of drive rollers112 and 132. The distance between the roller 127 and the conveyor band131 maybe adjusted by suitable adjusting means, not shown. When conveyorbelt 131 is driven at a selected speed, a certain predetermined amountof the reactant is conveyed to conveyor band 110. Conveyor band 110 isdriven at constant speed by a drive means 111.

Rollers 112 and 132 are mounted on a frame 108 which has an upwardlyprojecting portion 109 terminating in a portion 121 above an opening inwhich the knife edge 120 of a balancing lever 114 is located-forsupporting portion 121 and thereby frame 108, 109 with conveyor band110. In other words, the entire conveyor is suspended on the balancinglever 114 which has a weight 115 mounted by an adjustable means 116 onits free end, and which is supported by a knife edge 119 on a support122 of a housing 107. Members 109 and 113 are connected to each other byparallel links 123 so that when balancing arm 114 rocks, the conveyorframe moves parallel to itself, and the conveyor band 110 is maintainedin horizontal position.

It is evident that by suitably selecting weight 115, the conveyor with apredetermined amount of powdered reactant thereon can be counterbalancedin such a manner that an excess of powdered reactant supplied byconveyor 131 to conveyor 110 will cause lowering of conveyor 110 andrising of the free arm of balancing lever 114, while an insuflicientquantity of the reactant supplied to conveyor 110 will have the oppositeeffect. A pin 114a is secured to balancing arm 114 and located betweenthe prongs of a bifurcated arm 118 secured to the vertical arm 113 andturnable with the same about a shaft 133 mounted on arm 117. Anadjusting member 124 is secured to the lower end of arm 113.

When balancing arm 114 moves out of its normal posi- .tion ofequilibrium, member 124-is' caused to move in substantiallyhorizontaldirection in opposite directions along the top surface of the conveyorband 110.

When the amount of reactant on conveyor band 110 is correct, thebalancing am 114 will be in a certain position of equilibrium in whichadjusting member 124 is spaced such a distance from the top surface ofconveyor band 110 to permit the passage of a layer of powdercorresponding exactly to the desired amount of reactant which is to besupplied. When the weight of the powder on the conveyor band 110 is toohigh, arm 114 will be displaced in counterclockwise direction and turnlever means 114a, 113 in-the same direction so that adjusting member 124is moved toward conveyor band 131, scraping an amount of powderedreactant off the conveyor band, and permitting a lesser amount ofpowdered reactant to remain on conveyor band 110. In this manner, theamount fed by conveyor 110 to inlet is reduced, and it will beunderstood that if the amount of powdered reactant on conveyor band 110'is insufiicient, and balancing arm 114 turns in clockwise direction, theopposite effect will be achieved. A corresponding arrangement isprovided for feeding exactly measured amount of the second reactant intoinlet 4.

The amount of powdered reactant fed to inlets 4 and 5 is roughlyadjusted by determining the speed of movement of conveyor 131 and ofconveyor 110. Small deviations from the desired quantity per minute arecorrected by the adjusting means 124. An accuracy of plus or minus 1% isachieved at conveyor band 131,, and an accuracy of plus or minus 0.5% atconveyor band 110. The average error in the ratio between the tworeactants while within the range of plus or minus is 0.3.

. The following examples are illustrative of reactions in accordancewith the method of thepresent invention.

14 EXAMPLE 1 Reaction of vinyl chloride resin The reaction is carriedout using the embodiment of the reaction machine shown in FIG. 1 and thefeeding devices shown in FIG. 5. A portion of a liquid plasticizer isfed through conduit 2 onto surface 12 and spread on the same byrotation, while resin powder is fed through the inlet 5 onto surface 10,spread over the same by rotation, and mixed with the liquid plasticizer,spread over surface 13 after passing over surface 12 whereby thechemical aflinity of the reactants is increased. The remainder of theplasticizer is fed through conduit 1 and the powdered material andliquid plasticizer thoroughly and uniformly mixed with each other tocause a rapid and complete reaction. A lubricant, a stabilizer and dyesare supplied and mixed with the reactants travelling on the inclinedsurface 20. The reactants, having thus been mixed and dispersed,'arefinally pulverized and mixed by the projections 21, 21a and outwardlyejected into the casing. The resulting reaction mass is discharged fromthe outlet 35 and then molded by extrusion.

In this example, the resin powder is directly employed in place ofpellets which are usually used in processes for molding vinyl chloride,and consequently the steps necessary for forming the pellets inaccordance with the prior art are omitted with the advantage that theundesirable heat eifect on the manufactured articles can be completelyeliminated whereby the heat resistance and stabilization of thearticles, and the operation of the extruder are simplified. The rotarymember is rotated at 3000 revolutions per minute, the diameter at theedge of the .frusto-conical surface is 300 mm., the average diameter ofa resin particle is 0.15 mm., and the amount fed is 10 lbs. per minute.

EXAMPLE 2 Reaction in the preparation of a phosphoric acid fertilizerThe machine shown-in FIG. 1 and the feeding devices shown in FIG. 5 areused. Ammonium hydroxide is supplied through conduit 1, and a slurryformed of pulverized serpentine having particles with a diameter ofabout 0.2 mm. and a H PO and H is introduced through the conduit 2, andcontact reaction is effected.

The rotary member is rotated at 2500 revolutions per minute, and 50 lbs.per hour of the slurry and ammonium hydroxide are supplied by thefeeding device to the machine. The reaction ratio is more than 93%, andthe product is obtained in substantially dry condition. An aging period,required by the corresponding process according to the prior art, can becompletely omitted. Aftertreatment, such as heating, is scarcelyemployed.

EXAMPLE 3 Reaction in the preparation of hydrofluoric acid Under theconditions described with reference to Example 2, a mixture is preparedof 80% hydrogen fluoride, 5% of sulphuric acid gas, and 5% water byadding concentrated sulphuric acid to fiuorspar of 80 mesh. The moistureis evaporated by the heat of the reaction during the mixing process,residual gypsum being obtained in the form of a dry powder. Thus,aftertreatment is simplified.

EXAMPLE 4 Saccharification reaction of wood Under conditionscorrespondingto the first example, wood powder of 150-1200 mesh isreacted with H 80 in the equivalent ratio. In this example as well, theperiod required in the process of the prior art for the aging can becompletely omitted, while the yield of saccharificate is increased up toand aftertreatment simplified. The reaction rate can be adjusted.

1 EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of tianium compounds Sponge-like titaniumobtained by the chloride process is heated at 900 C. in a hydrogenfurnace to from hydrides. A product having a distored structure ispulverized by a pulverizer to form particles of less than 2 mm. indiameter. The powder is continuously fed into inlet 5 at a rate of 940gr. per minute, while powdered silicon having the same particlesize isfed continuously intoinlet 5 at a rate of 1080 gr. per minute, and atthe same time hydrogen gas is fed into conduit 2 at a rate of 0.5 Nm.per minute, while hot air heated to about 200 C. is

blown into conduit 3. The rotary members are rotated at 3000 revolutionsper minute. The reaction mass thus obtained is again heated to ll50 inthe hydrogen furnace for minutes and pure di-silicic titanium wasobtained with a yield of 92% in weight of raw materials, namely,titanium hydride and silicon powder.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of resin foam 1000 parts of polystyrol pulverizedto a particle size of 0.3 mm. diameter are continuously fed into inlet5, and 20 parts of methanol are fed into conduit 3 while 70 parts ofhexane are fed into conduit 2, The rotary members are rotated at 2000revolutions per minute. The resulting product is cast in a metal moldprovided with degassing pores and is subjected to an expansion treatmentby vapor at 95 C. for minutes whereby polystyrol foam is obtained.

According to the process of theprior art, polystyrol particles mixedwith afoaming agent must be left for a day and a night at least so thatthe polystyrol is fully impregnated with the foaming agent. This isunnecessary in the method of the present invention, and the foamingtreatment can be easily carried out.

EXAMPLE 7 Reaction in the preparation of solid grape sugar Theembodiment of the machine shown in FIG. 4 provided with the continuousfeeding devices shown in FIG. 5 are used in this reaction. Concentratedsulphuric acid liquid having a viscosity of Baume 42 is fed to thesurface 12 and spread over the same. Liquid droplets thrown from theperiperal edge of surface 13 are disintegrated by projecting teeth 147of member 98. Very small droplets are thus obtained which are thrownagainst surface 11 of member. 94 and added to crystal grape sugar powderof 100 mesh supplied from inlet 5 and spread over surfaces 9 and 11 ofmembers 94 and 95 whereby the crystal is instantly enlarged due to thedeposit of liquid on the 13 of member 98 at a reduced speed, forexample, at.

about 800 revolutions per minute. The teeth 147 function effectively toform minute droplets even at a restricted rotary speed, while theannular plate portion 148 .prevents the powder particles from enteringat random be tween the teeth 147 whereby destruction of the particles isavoided.

EXAMPLE 8 Reaction for preventing the frementation of rice bran Themachine illustrated in FIG. 1 and provided with the feeding devicesshown in FIG. 5 is employed. Chlorine gas is introduced through conduit2 and suppliedto surface 13, and thrown outwardly to be added to ricebran supplied through inlets 4 and 5 and spread over surfaces 9 and 11after passing over surfaces 8 and 10. The rice bran is permitted toabsorb an amount of gas correspond ing to 0.3% of the amount of ricebran. Rice bran thus treated is protected from fermentation anddecomposition. After a long period of storage oil extraction yield wasfound to be 50%.

The foregoing examples are only illustrative, and it will be appreciatedthat the reaction machine of the present invention can be used for anunlimited number of different chemical reactions.

In order to accomplish more effectively the object of the presentinvention, it is preferred to pulverize solid reactants to from as smallparticles as possible, but it is not always necessary to make particlesof exactly uniform size. The machine can be easily adapted to specificreactant by suitably selecting the diameter of the particles of therecantant, the number of revolutions of the rotary members, the amountof reactants fed to the machines, and the diameter of the rotatingsurfaces, which is carried out in accordance with the above discussedequation.

The amount of rawmaterials required for a specific prior art where twoor more different reactors, which have been previously compounded, aremixed and aged within a reactor. In the process of the prior art,non-uniformity of the compounding ratio cannot be avoided in smallportions of the mixture, even if the amounts of reactants contained inthe reactor are provided in a certain compounding ratio. However, inaccordancewith the present invention the desired ratio is accuratelymaintained in minute portions of the mixture, and even for particles ofthe reactants.

Consequently, by the method of the invention it is possible to effect anunusual reaction, for example, a reaction where the amount of one of thereactants used. in the reaction, is half the theoretically requiredamount. In such a reaction, which is different from a normal reaction,the excess of the respective reactor, will also react, and the reactionwill proceed to a condition in which materials supplied in excess overthe normal ratio are all uniformly sub-reacted. It is evidentthat aproduct obtained by such a reaction may have peculiar properties. Inother words, the present invention makes it possible to carry out reactions whose exact theory and mechanism is unknown, and to thus produceunknown substances.

A reaction machine according to the present invention is advantageouslyemployed instead of the agitation type reactors or vibration typereactors of the prior art with.

substantially improved effects. The time for the reaction and agingwhich require several days in the methods of the prior art is suitablyshortened when the method of the invention is carried out by the machineof the invention, and no catalyzer, or only a very small quantitythereof, is required forthe reaction. Drying treatment, which isindispensable in accordance with prior art methods, becomes unnecessaryand the reaction efficiency is improved with all reactants being reacteduniformly. Thus, a product having excellent quality is obtained.

It is evident that the equipment, as well as the process, is simplifiedsince the structure of the reaction machine is very simple, and even ifthe rotary members are rotated at very high speeds, the maintenance andservice will cause no trouble due to the construction of the rotarymembers which spin like a top about a vertical axis and are maintainedin the desired position by inertia. The high speed and completeness ofthe reaction, and other advantages explained above, may be attributed tothe fact that the reactors are accurately and completely dispersed andspread so that actually particles of thesubstances are placed adjacenteach other. Since the substances move relative to each other while beingspread on the rotary surfaces, the reaction is further improved. It isknown that the relative speed between reacting particles is an importantfactor in promoting a reaction. According to the present invention, thereactants move relative to each other just at the place where thereaction takes place. By rotating the rotary members in oppositedirections, a relative speed corresponding to twice the speed ofparticles thrown from the peripheral edge of an inner rotary surface canbe obtained. All these factors attribute to a rapid and highly efiicientreaction, which cannot be achieved by prior art methods and apparatus.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofreaction methods differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in areaction method using the centrifugal force, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended t'o becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A reaction method comprising the steps of supplying a plurality ofreactants to a plurality of surfaces rotating about an axis so that thereactants are respectively spread in thin layers over said surfaces bythe centrifugal force and pass beyond the peripheral edges of saidsurfaces in thin tangentially moving films; receiving the films formedby the reactants on another surface located opposite and outwardly ofsaid peripheral edges whereby said reactants rapidly react on said othersurface; and recovering the reaction mass.

2. A reaction method comprising the steps of supplying a react-ant to afirst surface rotating about an axis so that the reactant is spread in athin layer on said first surface and passes beyond the peripheral edgeof the same in a thin tangentially moving film; supplying anotherreactant to a second surface rotating about said axis and extending atan angle to said first surface crossing said edge of the same wherebysaid other reactant is spread on said second surface in a thin layer andimpinged by said thin film of the first reactant to form with the same areaction mass passing beyond the peripheral edge of said second surfacedue to the action of the centrifugal force; and recovering said reactionmass.

3. A reaction method comprising the steps of supplying a plurality ofreactants to a plurality of substantially parallel first surfaces sothat the reactants are spread in thin layers on said first surfaces andpass beyond the peripheral edges of the same in thin tangentially movingfilms; and supplying another reactant to a second surface rotating aboutsaid axis and extending at an angle to said first surfaces crossing saidedges of the same whereby said other reactant is spread in a thin layeron said second surface and impinged by the films formed by the firstreactants to form with the same a reaction mass passing beyond theperipheral edge of said second surface due to the action of thecentrifugal force; and recovering said reaction mass.

4. A reaction method comprising the steps of supplying a plurality ofreactants to a plurality of surfaces rotating about an axis relative toeach other so that the reactants are respectively spread in thin layersover said surface by the centrifugal force and pass beyond theperipheral edges of said surfaces and from one of said surfaces toanother surface moving relative thereto in a thin tangentially movingfilm whereby said reactants react on said other surface; and recoveringthe reaction mass.

5. A reaction method comprising the steps of supplying a reactant to afirst surface rotating about an axis so that the reactant is spread in athin layer on said first surface and passes beyond the peripheral edgeof the same in a thin tangentially moving film; and supplying anotherreactant to a second surface rotating about said axis relative to saidfirst surface and extending at an angle to said first surface crossingsaid edge of the same whereby said other reactant is spread on saidsecond surface in a thin layer and impinged by said thin film of thefirst reactant to form with the same a reaction mass passing beyond theperipheral edge of said second surface due to the action of thecentrifugal force; and recovering said reaction mass.

6. A reaction method comprising the steps of supplying a reactant to afirst surface rotating about an axis so that the reactant is spread in athin layer on said first surface and passes beyond the peripheral edgeof the same in a thin tangentially moving film; and supplying anotherreactant to a second surface rotating about said axis and extending atan angle to said first surface crossing said edge of the same wherebysaid other reactant is spread on said second surface in a thin layer andimpinged by said thin film of the first reactant to form with the same areaction mass passing beyond the peripheral edge of said second surfacedue to the action of the centrifugal force, said reaction mass includingliquid particles moving along a first path beyond the peripheral edge ofsaid second surface, and solid particles moving along a second pathbeyond said edge of said second surface; and separately recovering saidliquid and solid particles in the regions of said paths.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said particles are recoveredon a rotary surface and including the steps of adding another reactantto said collected liquid particles on said rotary surface to formanother reaction mass including solid particles of the same mixture assaid solid particles, and a liquid; and recovering said liquid and saidsolid particles separately when the same pass beyond the periphery ofsaid last-mentioned surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,284,488 11/1918 Steward.1,629,200 5/1927 Buhtz 23-1 2,507,490 5/ 0 Cohen.

OSCAR R. VERTIZ, Primary Examiner. EDWARD STERN, Examiner.

1. A REACTION METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SUPPLYING A PLUALITY OFREACTANTS TO A PLURALITY OF SURFACES ROTATING ABOUT AN AXIS SO THAT THEREACTANTS ARE RESPECTIVELY SPREAD IN THIN LAYERS OVER SAID SURFACES BYTHE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AND PASS BEYOND THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF SAIDSURFACES IN THIN TANGENTIALLY MOVING FILMS; RECEIVING THE FILMS FORMEDBY THE REACTANTS ON ANOTHER SURFACE LOCATED OPPOSITE AND OUTWARDLY OFSAID PERIPHERAL EDGES WHEREBY SAID REACTANTS RAPIDLY REACT ON SAID OTHERSURFACE; AND RECOVERING THE REACTION MASS.